T. David Harris Assistant Professor

Our research applies coordination chemistry, which enables the control of geometric and electronic structure at the atomic level, to develop and study functional molecules and materials. Students in our group receive broad training in synthesis, by designing and preparing molecular complexes and coordination solids, as well as in physical methods, by investigating compounds using techniques such as X-ray crystallography, magnetometry, and spectroscopy. More specifically, our research exploits chemical control of spin to synthesize metal-organic radical magnets and magnetic resonance probes that map temperature, redox environment, pH, and ion concentration, and we employ metal-organic frameworks as solid-state matrices to study the structure, bonding, and reactivity of unusual metal complexes relevant to biology and catalysis.